The New York Yankees’ series against the Baltimore Orioles continues to get heated. However, as the two AL East rivals battle it out for AL supremacy, at least for now, the Bronx Bombers don’t have their ultimate weapon with them. After the Orioles hit him in game 1, Aaron Judge was absent in the Yankees’ 7-6 loss to the O’s. And that absence might increase to another day.

Though Judge had hoped to play on Wednesday, Aaron Boone revealed that he wouldn’t allow the superstar to risk injury. All Rise did do some BP before the game. However, Boone decided to make the red-hot Judge take much-needed rest. But then after the game was lost, Boone was asked about Judge’s presence on Thursday’s game. The skipper couldn’t give a definite answer. 

Boone summarized his answer in two words, “Maybe” and “hopefully.” He explained his thought process behind making Judge rest, claiming, “He was better (Wednesday) and got down there (in the cage) and swung a little bit, but it was definitely still pretty sore in there,” Boone noted. “I don’t want him to go out there and compromise anything (and) fight through it and something bad happens.”  

Part of the reason why Boone doesn’t want Judge to get injured is because the Yankees still can’t afford a lengthy absence of their captain. Last season, the team completely collapsed after Aaron Judge’s foot injury. This season they have made a few additions, but as Mark DeRosa said on MLB Central, “you can’t replace him.” Judge has a 1.385 OPS (in his last 47 games) and 22 Homers. No other player has hit more than 14 homers and had over 1.085 OPS in that time frame. 

As a result, the Bronx Bombers can ill afford Aaron Judge’s absence. Their loss to the Orioles showed that the Yankees have something missing without Judge.

New York Yankees get ready for series finale with uncertainties

It was an explosive night for the fans in Yankee Stadium. Though the game ended in disappointment and cut the Yankees’ AL East lead to just 1 ½ games, it showed just how close the O’s and Yankees are. Giancarlo Stanton’s clutch performances (he drove in 3 runs in the seventh inning and 1 in the ninth) proved to be an encouraging sign. However, the main story was Gerrit Cole’s return.

The reigning AL Cy Young winner gave away just 2 runs and three hits in 4 plus innings of pitching. More importantly, after a shaky first inning, Cole continued to get sharper with each passing pitch. However, all of that came to a halt after the Yankees gave away the game in extra innings. But it wasn’t surprising for them, they had known about the O’s quality since the beginning. “They’re a good team,” said Anthony Volpe, adding, “They won 100 games last year for a reason, they won the division last year. We’re tying to take it from them.”

However, as the Yankees get ready for the finale, they might have to do it without Aaron Judge. If today’s game proved anything, the Bronx Bombers’ bats can handle the pressure at least for now.